Programme 1968 – The Merchant of Venice

HASTINGS GIRLS’ & BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOLS

PRESENT

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

22nd, 24th, 25th and 26th June, 1968

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

In this play, which is on the surface a romance and a drama, Shakespeare has assembled a cast of rather conventional characters, the pensive Antonio, the talkative Gratiano, the lively and intelligent heroine Portia, and an easily-recognisable hero, the handsome Bassanio. But his stage villain is a very different figure. Jews in Shakespeare’s time were regarded with suspicion and hatred, and discriminated against by the law. Shylock can be taken in this play simply as the black villain that Shakespeare’s audience would consider him. But he can also be seen as a misunderstood and tragic figure, tricked and abused by all, the scapegoat of society, bearing with what dignity he can the wrongs that are legally forced on him. This is Shakespear’s [ Shakespeare’s ] great art.

ACT I – IN VENICE

Bassanio, lacking money to present his suit to the rich, fair and virtuous Portia, asks his wealthy friend Antonio for a loan of three thousand ducats, to be repaid at the end of three months. Antonio readily agrees, but not having the full amount on hand he is forced to approach Shylock, who, seeing this as an opportunity to injure his hated rival, lends the money without interest. However, should Antonio fall to repay the loan within the stipulated time, Shylock is entitled to one pound of Antonio’s flesh.

ACT II – IN VENICE, AND AT PORTIA’S HOUSE IN BELMONT

Equipped with the money obtained from Antonio, Bassanio journeys with Gratiano to Belmont, and Portia. They are accompanied by Shylock’s former servant, the clown Launcelot Gobbo. Lorenzo, taking advantage of Bassanio’s departure, elopes with Shylock’s daughter Jessica. Meanwhile in Belmont, Portia is following the terms of her father’s will by putting her many suitors to the test of the three caskets. Then comes the news that Bassanio has arrived.

ACT III – AT BELMONT, IN PORTIA’S HOUSE

While Bassanio is making his choice, Gratiano successfully courts Portia’s waiting-maid, Nerissa. To complete the trio of lovers, Lorenzo enters with Jessica, but their happiness is short-lived as the news arrives that Antonio’s ships have been lost at sea. The bond is now forfeited and Shylock demands his pound of flesh. After the marriages, Bassanio sets off for Venice to discredit the bond. Portia, in order to save Antonio, disguises herself as a Doctor of Laws, and with Nerissa as her clerk, departs for Venice.

ACT IV – IN VENICE. A COURT OF JUSTICE

Portia arrives at the court of justice just as the trial of Shylock against Antonio is beginning. Portia’s eloquent pleas for mercy are to no avail, but her skilful handling of the case turns the judgement against Shylock, and he leaves the court a broken man. Portia and Nerissa contrive to regain their marriage rings as payment for their services.

ACT V – AT BELMONT

The merry jest of the rings is happily resolved, revealing to the astonished husbands the part played by their wives in court. Word comes that three of Antonio’s vessels have come richly to harbour; thus that which might have been a tragedy, turns for all except Shylock to happiness.

There will be a short interval between Acts II and III, and an interval of 10 minutes between Acts III and IV.

THE CAST

Antonio – Merchant of Venice   STUART DEVENIE

Shylock – a rich Jew   RICHARD PERROTT

The Duke of Venice    ERIC FRYKBERG

Bassanio – friend to Antonio, suitor to Portia   DARYLL HUTCHISON

Portia of Belmont   ALISON BLACK

Nerissa – maid to Portia   GWITHA HUNT

Gratiano – friend to Bassanio   CHARLES TOOGOOD

Lorenzo – friend to Bassanio, suitor to Jessica   GARRY KNUCKEY

Jessica – daughter to Shylock   TERESA WOODHAM

Solanio Salerio – friends to Antonio and Bassanio   DOUGLAS ANDERSON, STUART SPACKMAN

Tubal – rich Jew, friend of Shylock   WAYNE BRUNTON

The Prince of Morocco The Prince of Aragon two of Portia’s foreign suitors   RICHARD MAYS, KEITH DE RIDDER

Launcelot Gobbo – the clown, servant to Shylock and later, Bassanio   MURRAY GADD

Old Gobbo – father of Launcelot Gobbo   DAVID PRICE

Leonardo – servant to Bassanio   JOCK MURLEY

Stephano Balthasar servants to Portia   ALASTAIR CROCKET, JOHN MULLINDER

Clerk of Court   STEPHEN LILEY

Jailer   ROBERT LUSHER

Arab Slaves   ROARK WATSON, ROSS ENGLISH

Pages to Arragon   MURRAY WIGGINS, PETER LYCETTE

Pages to the Duke   CHARLES ARMSTRONG, DAVID NORRIS

THE PRODUCTION

Producer   MR. R.J. McCONNELL

Set Design   MR. O. MELLING, ROSS PINKHAM, JOHN McHARDY, CHRIS HILL, JOHN SINCLAIR, BRUCE ROBERTSON

Set Painting   MR. R. DUNNINGHAM, ALAN CLARK, ALAN WATERHOUSE, MARK HOUGH, BARRY SHARPLIN, CHARLES BRADLEY, MISS G. COCHRANE, STAMATOULA HALICIOUPOULOUS, DIANE FROST, JANE LISSETTE

Stage Manager   MR. O. MELLING

Stage Crew   RICHARD DEYELL, DONALD HAGENSON, MICHAEL JUDD, JOHN SINCLAIR, PHILIP ARTHUR, CHRIS RILEY

Lighting and Sound   MR. E. FLETCHER, BRETT MARTIN, MURRAY CAVES, BRIAN RODGERS, ALASTAIR CAMPBELL, TREVOR SOPPIT, MARK WILKIE

Wardrobe Mistress   MRS. W.H. WINN assisted by the Mothers of the Cast

Make-Up   MR. W. CLARK, MRS. P. WADELL, MRS. J. DALY, MRS. M. McCONNELL, MRS. M. BULLED, MR. J. McLAUGHLIN

Prompts   SUSAN ENGLISH, RUSSELL BRISTOW

Properties   MISS G. COCHRANE, MR. R. DUNNINGHAM, ANTHONY DALY, KEVIN BLOOMHEAD

Posters   WYNN CORBY, HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

Front of House   MR. M. ANDREWS, PHILIP WIGGINS, CARL PASCOE, LINDSAY GUILD, GEOFFREY CROSS

Call Boys   PAUL BENNETT, JOHN McLEAN

Publicity   MR. P. LINYARD

Programme   MISS G. COCHRANE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Photographs   LOVELL-SMITHS

HART PRINT